Strip material dispensing and applying device



Feb. 26, 1952 E. J. LEGER 2,586,835

STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR kn 5J7 Jams: [Ear/e g Ila/WW ATTO EY E. J. LEGERSTRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Feb. 26, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1949 Q Q m INVENTOR [nu 57- Jvvi: [5 52,BY W ATTOR Y Feb. 26, 1952 E. J. LEGER STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING ANDAPPLYING DEVICE 5 Sheefcs-Sheet 3 faves?- 05D Filed April 26, 1949TORNEY Feb. 26, 1952 E. J. LEGER 2,586,835

STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR [JP/v43;- JZME: A754 Feb. 26, 1952 V E. J. LEGER2,586,835

STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR tie/v55?- am/5.: [56519.

A TORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1952 STRIP MATERIAL DISPENSING AND APPLYINGDEVICE Ernest James Leger, Metuchen, N. J assignor to Johnson ,&Johnson, a corporation of New Application April 26, 1949, Serial N 0.89,622

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable manually operated dispenser forapplying adhesive strip material to a surface merely by moving the disepenser, in which a supply of the adhesive strip material is contained,into engagement with the surface to attach the leading end of the stripmaterial thereto and then pressing the strip material into contact withthe surface, as it is fed from the dispenser, until the desired lengththereof is adhesively attached to the surface.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrate ed, the adhesive stripmaterial is in the form of gummed labels whose individual lengths aredefined by transverse lines of perforations located at spaced intervalsalong a continuous strip of the material and whose gummed adhesiverequires activation by a moistening liquid.

According to the invention there is provided in such a dispenser meansfor accommodating a supply of labels or other units to be dispensed,preferably fanfolded to present the labels one above the other in astack. The transverse lines of perforations are located conveniently atthe folds to facilitate tearing the individual labels apart.

The label strip is also perforated at equal intervals along its marginaledges. It is fed through the dispenser over a pair of laterally spacedsprocket wheels whose teeth engage in the marginal perforations, thenbeneath a sever ing device and over a moistening roll with its gummedsurface in contact therewith. From the moistening roll, which activatesthe gummed adhesive, the'label strip passes beneath a squeegee orapplying roll whose function is to press the activated gummed strip intocontact with the surface to be labeled.

As the dispenser is moved toward the surface to be labeled, a pivotedactuating plate or shoe depending from the underside .of the dispenser,first engages the surface to be labeled and, as this movement of thedispenser continues, the actuating shoe turns the sprocket wheelspositively to advance the iabel over the moistening roll and into aposition where its leading end immediately underlies the squeegee roll.The leading end of the label strip can then be pressed into contact withthe underlying surface and the entire label stuck firmly thereto bydrawing the squeegee roll over the label with the application .ofsurficient pressure for the purpose,

Th a of d aw he d e s r alo the el to r s i rmly in cont ct wi h the uder ying urf e ves t ad an e the abel strip further through thedispenser. This in turn pulls K Fig. 1, illustrating the initiation of alabeling opthe sprocket wheels around to their initial position where,for the time being, they are locked against further movement. Thislocking of the sprocket wheels anchors the label strip against furtheradvance movement through the dispenser, but in the meantime thetransverse line of perforations defining the trailing end of the firstlabel in the strip has arrived into registry with the severing devicewhich causes the strip to tear along the perforated line as the operatorcompletes squeegeeing down the label being applied.

AS the dispenser is moved away from the applied label, the sprocketwheel actuating shoe returns to its normal position by spring action,thereby releasing the sprocket wheels and readying the dispenser for thenext labeling operation.

The dispenser is equipped with an enclosed reservoir for liquid which ismetered to the moistening roll, the reservoir and roll being assembledas a unit for convenient removal and replacement when the supply ofmoistening liquid needs replenishing.

The entire dispensing unit is simple and rugged in construction, has aminimum number of parts and is sufiiciently light in weight to enableits use throughout a normal working period withwhich follows and to theaccompanying drawings 'of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a group of stacked packages in the actof being labeled using a dispenser embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the dispenser shown in eration by pressing thedispenser against the surface to which the label is to be applied;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the dispenser afterthe sprocket wheel actuating shoe has operated to project the leadingend of the label beneath the squeegee roll;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating, in solid lines,the dispenser ready to begin vthe label applying stroke and, in phantomlines, the dispenser after the label applying stroke has section of thedispenser, showing some of the operating parts;

Fig.- 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view showing the details of a devicefor locking the sprocket wheel actuating shoe in a fixed position whenthe dispenser is not in use;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of the frontportion of the dispenser;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 8, but showingthe parts at a different phase of the machine cycle;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the centerlineof the sprocket wheel shaft;

Fig 13 is a partial sectional view on line |3-l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the liquid reservoir and moisteningroll assembly;

Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, illustrate the sprocket wheel unit and itsactuating mechanism at different phases of the machine cycle.

As shown in Figs. and 6, the dispenser presents a compartment l0 at therear, in which there is stored a continuous strip ll of labels fanfoldedto form a convenient stack from which the labels may be drawn from thetop. The compartment is defined by side walls l2 and I3, a front wallIt, and a bottom IE, on which the stack of labels rests. At the top ofthe compartment. and extending rearwardl from its front wall I4. thereis a shelf 1 6 spanning the distance between the side walls but whichterminates short of the rear end of the compartment to enable thecontinuous strip of labels H to pass from the compartment up over thetop surface of the shelf. A cover I! pivoted near the front of thedispenser "and having a top member l8 and a rear wall member l9, servesto close the compartment at the back and also at that part of the topnot spanned by the shelf member it. A spring latch 20, fastenedexteriorly on the rear wall member i9 of the cover, holds the latter inposition by engaging in a recess 2| formed in a vertical flange 22extending upwardly from the bottom member of the dispenser. A window 23in the cover permits the labels to be observed as they pass through thedispenser during use.

As it leaves the compartment ill, the label strip I! passes first over awobble roller 24 and then on to*the shelf or platform 16 at the top ofthe compartment, alone which it is guided by the top cover member l8when the latter is in its normal closed position. The wobble roller 24consists merely of a piece of cylindrical tubing loosely mounted on anundersized shaft 25 extending transversely of the dispenser and which isfixed at its ends in the side walls thereof just to the rear of theshelf H5. The wobble roller acts to prevent the rear edge of the shelfl6 from en gaging the sharp folds of the label strip and therebyinterfering with the even passage of the strip through the dispenser.

The label strip H is formed in its marginal edges with a series ofperforations 26 having the same spacing as the teeth 21 on a pair ofsame sprocket wheels 28, 29, located one adjacent each side wall of thedispenser just ahead of the front wall M of the compartment 10. Thewheels are fixed on a rotatable shaft 39, extending transversely acrossthe dispenser and which is journaled at its ends in the side walls I2and [3 thereof (Figs. 5, 11 and 12).

During the rotation of the sprocket llbfii i i 29, the teeth 21 thereontravel somewhat above the level of the shelf 55 which is slotted in thevicinity of the wheels for clearance. Otherwise the shelf l6 continuesforwardly beyond the front wall of the compartment iii to a positionjust above the sprocket wheel shaft 30 where it starts to curvedownwardly following the contour of the wheels to about the level of thesprocket wheel shaft where it again curves forwardly and slightlyupwardly, forming, in eifect, a trough 3! which underlies a severingelement 32 whose function and operation is described later on. Sufficeit to say here, the severing element 32 is in the form of a rollerhaving its greatest diam eter at the center from whence it tapersgradually and evenly toward its ends, and which is rotatably mounted ona cross bar 33 whose ends are fixed in the side walls of the dispenser.

When it is desired to thread the label strip I! through the dispenser inpreparation for its use, the cover plate IT, which, in its normal closedposition, presents a pair of guards 3 overlying and protecting thesprocket wheels, is swung to its open position thereby exposing theteeth at the top of the sprocket wheels. The label strip is drawn out ofthe compartment Hi, over the wobble roller 24 and the shelf i6, andlocated with its marginal perforations fitted on the eX- posed teeth ofthe sprocket wheels, and in a position such that the leading end of thestrip is just beneath the severing element 32 and above the underlyingtrough 3 Upon closing the cov er plate, the dispenser then is ready foruse.

The first operation performed in the act of dispensing a label involvesa rotation of the sprocket wheels 28, 29 in a clockwise directionpositively to advance the label strip over a moistening roll 35' andthen down under a squeegee roll t which may be of rubber and which ismounted for ro-' tation on opposed inwardly extending bearing pins 31fixed in the side walls of the dispenser near the front thereof (Fig.11). In the advance movement just described, the label strip is guidedin its passage through the machine by a guide plate 38 supported at itsrear on the bar 33 which bears the severing element 32. This may be doneconveniently by recessing the plate 38 in its rear edge to accommodatethe severing element but leaving rearwardly extending lugs 39 thereonwhich may be bent around the cross bar 33 at the ends of the severingelement, thereby centralizing; the latter. The guide plate curvesdownwardly to direct the label strip over the moistening roll 35, andterminates at its front edge in a slight reverse bend or lip 40 whichunderlies a cross bar 4|. A clip 42 fastened to the guide plate at thetop and which, at its front end engages over the bar 4|, serves tosuport the guide plate at the front. The label strip is also guide inits travel toward the squeegee roll 35 by a surface 43 underlying thelabel strip just beneath the lip on the guide plate 38. The surface 43is presented by a member of the moistening unit which is; described indetail later on.

Reverting to the operation of the sprocketwheels which advances thelabel strip through.

the machine, it should be noted that this is.

effected automatically as the dispenser is moved to engage the surfaceon which the label is to be applied (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). this purposeincludes a pivoted plate or shoe 44 located beneath the sprocket wheels28, 29, and which for the main portion of its length is substantially aswide as the distance between the side walls of the dispenser (Fig. 11).Near its.

The mechanism forfront end, however, it narrows down in width.terminating in a portion which curves upwardly to form a bearing surfaceor toe 45 adapted to slide readily along the surface to be labeled. The

shoe 44 is pivotally mounted in the dispenser on short opposed studs orbolts 46, 4'! which pass inwardly through the side walls of thedispenser near the bottom thereof just in front of the compartment Wall14, and which also pass through vertical flanges 48, 49 extendingupwardly from the lateral edges of the plate 44. The flanges 48, 49 attheir pivot points are enlarged in a radial direction for strength. Theshoe 45 is urged to its normal position (shown in solid lines in Fig.1.1), which is determined by the engagement of an arm 50 extendingradially from the right hand flange 49 on the shoe 44, with an enlargedhub 51 on the sprocket wheel 25, by a torsion spring 52 encircling theleft hand pivot stud 45 (Fig. 12), and whose ends react one against thefront wall 14 of the label compartment and the other against the topsurface of the shoe.

On the radially enlarged portion of the flange 46 at the left edge ofthe shoe 44 there is mounted a segmental rack 53 arranged to mesh with apinion gear 54 fixed on the hub of a substantially circular disc 55which is mounted at the left of the sprocket wheel 28 on the shaft 30.The disc 55 and the pinion gear 54 are free to rotate independently ofthe sprocket wheels on the sprocket wheel shaft. However, when thedispenser is brought into contact with the surface to be labeled, theactuating shoe 44 moves from the solid line to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 11, which is determined by the engagement of the upperedge of its right hand flange as with a pin 55 fixed in the adjacentside wall of the dispenser. During this movement of the actuating shoe44, the segmental rack 53 rotates the pinion gear '54 and the disc 55 ina clockwise direction, the disc in turn driving the sprocket wheelsalong with it through the medium of a pawl 51 piyotally mounted on thesprocket wheel 28 and which is engaged by a shoulder 58 formed in theperiphery of the disc 55. A spring 59 likewise mounted on the sprocketwheel 28 acts at all times to press the pawl 57 into edgewise contactwith the disc 55.

The relative positions of the sprocket wheels 2B, 29 and the partsforming its actuating mechanism before and after the inward movement ofthe actuating shoe 44 are shown respectively in 15 and in Figs. 8 and16. As previously stated, when the actuating shoe is moved to itsinnermost position to initiate the labeling operation, the label strip Il is advanced through the machine to a position where its leading endlies directly beneath the squeegee roll 35. Continuing the operation,the label strip at its leading and end is pressed by the squeegee roll3.6 onto the underlying surface to which it sticks, its gummed surfacehaving been activated by passing over the moistening roll 35 (Fig. 3).The dispenser is then moved to draw the squeegee roll along the surfaceof the label strip (Fig. 4). Throughout the operation the dispenser iscaused to exert pressure on the label and is held in a position toretain the actuating shoe 44 in its innermost position as is shown inFig. 16. Since the label, at its leading end, is anchored to theunderlying surface, this movement of the dispenser feeds a furtherportion of the label strip through the dispenser. As the marginalperforations in the label strip engage continuously with the sprocketwheel teeth 21, this feeding movement of the strip new acts to rotatethe sprocket wheels in the same direction as before and their rotationcontinues until arrested by the banking of a pin '60 projectinglaterally from the right hand sprocket wheel 29 near its periphery,against a stop 6| located on the adjacent flange 48 of the actuatingshoe, the stop 6! having been interposed in the path of the pin t5 whenthe actuating shoe was moved to its innermost position (Fig. 13). Duringthe rotation of the sprocket wheels 28 and 29 as just described, thepawl 51 on the sprocket wheel 28 drags along the periphery of the drivedisc 55 which, during this phase of the cycle, is held stationary by theactuating shoe 44 (Fig. 17).

When the rotation of the sprocket wheels is arrested in the mannerpreviously described, the transverse line of perforations, defining theend of the label which is in the act of being applied, will have arriveddirectly beneath the severing element 32. The increased tension nowexerted on the label strip, due to the continued pull exerted by thelabel being applied and the arrest in the movement of the next followinglabel, causes first, the enlarged center section of the severing element32 and then the tapered portions thereof to force their way through thetransverse line of perforations in the underlying strip, thereby evenlyto sever it.

It should be understood, of course, that the label strip could be madesufficiently weak at the transverse lines of perforation as to render asevering element unnecessary, but since it may be diincult to obtain acorrect balance between the strength required to pull the strip throughthe machine and the weakness required to insure severing, a severingelement is preferred. On the other hand, the severing element could bein the form of a sharp edged or a perforated edged cutting tool in whichcase previously perforating the label strip could be dispensed with.

After the label strip has been severed, the labeling operation iscompleted by continuing to draw the squeegee roll 36 over the severedlabel until the trailing end thereof has been pressed down firmlyagainst the underlying surface. The dispenser then is moved away fromthe surface that has been labeled, thereby releasing the actuating shoe44, and permitting it to return to its normal or outermost positionunder the influence of its torsion spring 52 In returning to normalposition, the actuating shoe 44, through its associated rack 53 andpinion 54, reversely rotates the sprocket Wheel drive disc 55 -back toits normal position where the pawl 51 drops into place behind theshoulder 58 (Fig. 18'). Also during the return movement :of theactuating shoe to normal posi tion, the stop '61 thereon moves out ofthe path of the pin on the sprocket wheel 29 (Fig. 13).

The parts are then ready for the next labeling operation.

At this point, it may be stated that the back lash of the sprocket wheelelement may be prevented in any suitable way. In the present embodimentthe means for this purpose includes leaf spring 52 anchored to thecompartment wall I4 and which is arranged to press against thesprocketwhee'l teeth so as to exert a drag on the sprocket wheel elementas it rotates.

The moistening unit will now be described. As shown in "Figs. '7, 8, 10,12, and 14, it consists es- 'sentially of a closed rectangular tank 53of dimensions such as to enable it to fit just between the sprocketwheels 28 and '29, beneath the shaft 30 thereof and just abovetheactuating sho'e 44 when the latter is in its innermost position. A screwplug 64 threaded into the bottom of the tank will, upon removal, giveaccess to the tank when the liquid needs replenishing. A fountain trough65 is arranged immediately at the front of the tank and the integraltherewith to accommodate the moistening roll 35 which preferably has aliquid absorbent covering. The trough has end walls 66 in which there isjournaled a pair of opposed hub pins 61 on which the roll 35 rotates,and a base member 68 substantially concentric with the rolls surface sothat a relatively large portion of the latter may rotate in closeproximity to the base of the trough.

The trough has a rear wall 69 and is partially closed at the top exceptfor a space which is substantially utilized by a portion of the rollextending above the trough to engage the gummed side of the label strip.The top partial closure of the trough is accomplished by a flange 10extending forwardly from the rear wall 69 of the trough, and by anotherflange H extending upwardly and rearwardly from the front edge of theupwardly sloping base 68 of the trough. The flanges T and H terminaterespectively in front and rear edges which are in close proximity to thesurface of the moistening roll 35. Incidentally, it is the flange Hwhich presents the guide surface 43 previously referred to.

Liquid is supplied to the trough 65 through a small aperture '52 in thebase of the trough which communicates with the tank 63. The aperture :2normally is below the level of the liquid in the tank, thereby creatingan air lock which serves to prevent the free flow of the liquid to thetrough. However, the normal movement of the dispenser during a labelingoperation serves to agitate the liquid and meter it to the trough a dropat a time or in an amount sufficient to maintain the absorbent surfaceof the roll 35 moist at all times. Furthermore, the partial closing ofthe trough at the top by the flanges and H effectively prevent anyspillage of liquid during use of the dispenser should an amount bemetered to the trough in excess of that which can be quickly absorbed bythe roller 35.

The moistening unit is mounted in the dispenser for ready removal whenthe tank 63 needs refilling. For this purpose the unit is supported atthe rear by a pair of clips 13 fastened to the sides of the tank nearthe rear thereof. The clips are formed with spaced prongs offsetlaterally from the side walls of the tank and which straddle the bearingpins 46 and 41 at the opposite sides of the dispenser that support theactuating shoe 44. The moistening unit is supported at the front by apair of aligned slide members I4 movable transversely of the dispenserinwardly and outwardly with reference to the side walls thereon-inguides 25 mounted on and underneath (Figs. 7, 14) the trough. The slides14 have their inner ends 16 flanged downwardly to act as abutments for acompression spring 11 which reacts between them and serves to press theslides outwardly to a position determined by the engagement of theirdownwardly extending flanges 16 with the adjacent ends of theirrespective guides 15. Whenthe slides 14 are in their outmost positions,small protrusions 18 at the outer ends thereof engage in slots 19 in theside walls of the dispenser designed to accommodate them. Thearrangement is such that when it is desired to remove the moisteningunit from the dispenser it is necessary only to press the slidesinwardly toward each other against the reaction of the spring 11 towithdraw the protrusions 18 clear of the slots 19. Thereupon themoistening unit may be removed merely by pulling it forward until theclips 13 at the rear clear their supporting pins. The unit is restoredto position in the dispenser by a reversal of the operations justdescribed.

The dispenser is designed for manual operation. For this purpose thereis provided near the dispensing end thereof, a pair of finger hooks 88arranged one on each side of the dispenser and adapted to engage oneover the thumb and the other over, say, the fourth finger of the samehand. When thus supported by the hooks, the dispenser will be in aconvenient position for use. A finger plate 8| fastened to the dispenserat the top just above the squeegee roll 36 provides a convenient meansfor exerting pressure on the label.

When the dispenser is not in use it will be found convenient to lock theactuating shoe 44 in one or another of its terminal positions in orderto guard against inadvertent operation which might result in wasting alabel. In the embodiment illustrated the locking device which, in thiscase, holds the actuating shoe in its innermost position, comprises aleaf spring 82 fastened at one of its ends to the wall of the dispenserat the outside thereof and provided at its other end with a pin 83registering with a pair of holes 84 in the dispenser wall and in theadjacent flange of the actuating shoe 44 when the latter is in itsinnermost position. The leaf spring 82, which is bent to provide someclearance between it and the dispenser wall near the end of the springwhich is anchored to the wall, normally tends to press the pin 83through the holes 84 in the dispenser wall and in the actuating shoe 44when the latter is in its innermost position, thereby to lock the latterin place. To use the dispenser, the actuating shoe is released bywithdrawing the pin 83 from the holes 84. For this purpose there isprovided a pin 85 having a head which rides beneath the leaf spring 82but whose shank extends outwardly through an elongated longitudinal slot86 in the leaf spring. When the pin 85 is in one end of the slot, theclearance beneath the leaf spring, to which reference has been madeheretofore, is such as to allow the locking pin 83 to assume its activeposition. However, when the pin 85 is moved to the other end of the slot86 where no such clearance is provided, the head thereof forces thespring 82 outwardly to withdraw the locking pin 83 out of the holes inthe actuating shoe, thereby releasing it for normal operation.

The "invention has been described above in connection with oneembodiment thereof, but many others are included within its spirit. Theinvention is to be limited, therefore, only by the prior art and thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispenser and applier for material in continuous strip form as, forinstance, labels and the like, and which comprises in combination,

' means for accommodating a quantity of the strip material, meansoperable to feed said strip material through the dispenser, an applyingdevice operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface towhich the strip material is to be applied, to press said strip materialagainst said surface and withdraw it from the dispenser, mechanismconnected with the feed means and operable by pressing against theunderlying surface to actuate the feeding means partially to advancesaid material through the dispenser into iristl ument'alitis' forarresting the withdrawal of the material whereby a determine the lengththereof to be applied to the surface, and severing means forautomatically rupturing the strip material in the region ofincreasedtension created therein by operation of the withdrawalarresting instrumentalities and the continued operationof the applyingdevice.

2. A dispenser and applier for gummed adhesive material in continuousstrip form" as; for in stance, gummed labels or the like, and whichcomprises in combination, means for accommodating a quantity of thegummed adhesive strip material, means co-operating with the stripmaterial and operable to feed said material through the dispenser,moistening means for activating the gummed adhesive on said materiaLanapplying device operable a the dispenser is drawn along an underlyingsurface to which the strip material is to be applied to press the stripma! terial against said surface and to withdraw the strip material fromthe dispenser, mechanism connected with the feed means and operable bypressing against the underlying surface as the applying device is movedtoward said surface to actuate said feeding means partially to advancethe strip material through the dispensing device in contact with themoistening means and into a position to be acted upon by the applyingdevice and withdrawn thereby from the dispenser, instrumentalitiesincluding the feeding means for arresting the withdrawal of the stripmaterial whereby to determine the length thereof to be applied to thesurface, and severing means cated between the feed means and theapplying device for automatically rupturing the strip material in theregion of increased tension created therein by the'operation of thewithdrawal arresting instrumentalities and the continued operation ofthe applying device.

3. A dispenser and applier for material in continuous strip form as, forinstance, labels and the like, and which comprises in combination, meansfor accommodating a quantity of the strip material, means cooperatingwith the strip material and operable to feed said material through thedispenser, an applying device operable as the dispenser is drawn alongan underlying surface to which the strip material is to be applied topress the strip material against said surface-and to withdraw the stripmaterial from the dispenser, a shoe mounted adjacent the-bottom of thedispenser and connected to actuate the feed means upon being pressedagainst saidsurface partially to advance the strip material through thedispenser into a position to be acted upon by the applying device andwithdrawn thereby from the dispenser, instrumentalities including thefeed means for arresting the withdrawal of the strip material whereby todetermine the length thereof to be applied to said surface, and severingmeans located between the feed means and the applying device forautomatically rupturing the strip material in the region of increasedtension created therein by the operation of the withdrawal arrestinginstrumentalities and the continued operation of the applying device.

4. A dispenser and applier for material in continuous strip form as, forinstance, labels and the like having spaced perforations along theirmarginal edges, and transverse lines of perforations at longitudinallyspaced intervals to determine strip portions of a given length, andwhich comprises in combination, means for accommodating a quantity ofthe strip material, a

rotatable sprocket wheel element having teeth for co-operating with theperforations in the marginal edges of said material, an applying deviceoperable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to whichthe strip material is to be applied to press the strip material againstsaid surface and to withdraw the strip material from the dispenser, ashoe mounted adjacent the bottom of the dispenser and arranged to rotatethe sprocket wheel element, upon being pressed against'said surface,partially to advance the strip material through the dispenser into aposition to be actedupon by the applying device and withdrawn'thereby'from the dispenser, means for arresting the sprocket wheel element afterpredetermined rotation thereof corresponding to a strip per-homer saidgiven length, and a transversely disposed" crowned element locatedbetween the sprocket wheel element and the applying device forautomatically rupturing the strip material along a transverse line ofperforations as the tension in the strip material is" increased by thearrest of the sprocket Wheel element and the continued operation of theapplying device.

5. A dispenser and applier for gummed adhesive material in continuousstrip form as, for instance, labels and the like, having spacedperforations along their marginal edges, and transverse lines ofperforations at longitudinally spaced intervals to' determine stripportions of given length, said device comprising in combination, meansfor accommodating a' quantity of the gummed adhesive strip material, arotatable sprocket wheel element having teeth for cooperating with theperforations in the marginal edges of the stripmaterial, moisteningmeans for activating' the gummed adhesive on the strip material,anapplying device operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlyingsurface to which the strip material is to be applied to press thestripmaterial against said surface and to withdraw the strip materialfrom the dispenser, a shoe'mounted adjacent the bottom of the dispenserand arranged to rotate the sprocket wheel elemenn upon beingpressedagainst said surface, partially to advance the strip material throughthe dispenser in contact with the moistening means and into a'positionto beacted upon by the applying device and withdrawn thereby from thedispenser, means for arresting the sprocket wheel element afterpredetermined rotation thereof corresponding to a strip portion of saidgiven length, and a transversely disposed crowned element locatedbetween the'sprocket wheel elementand the applying" device forautomatically rupturing'the-strip material along a transverse line ofperforations as the tension in the strip material is increased by thearrest of the sprocket wheel element and the continued operation of theapplying device.

6. A dispenser and applier for material in continuous strip form as, forinstance, labels and the like having spaced perforations along theirmarginal edges, said device comprising in combination, means foraccommodating a quantity of the strip material, a rotatable sprocketwheel element having teeth for co-operating with the perforations in themarginal edges of the strip material, an applying device operable as thedispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to which the stripmaterial is to be applied to press the strip material against saidsurface and to withdraw the strip material from the dispenser, a shoemounted adjacent the bottom of the dispenser and arranged, when movedfrom one terminal position to another, to rotate the sprocket wheelelement through a portion of a revolution to advance said material intoa position to be acted upon by the applying device and withdrawn therebyfrom the dispenser and arranged also to render active means forarresting the sprocket wheel element when said revolution has beencompleted by withdrawal of the strip material whereby to interrupt suchwithdrawal, severing means located between the sprocket wheel elementand the applying device for automatically rupturing the strip materialas the tension therein is increased by the arrest of the sprocket wheelelement and the continued operation of the applying device, and a springfor returning the shoe back to its initial position, said returnmovement of the shoe acting to release the sprocket wheel element andrender the dispenser ready for another dispensing operation.

7. A dispensing and applying device according to claim 6 wherein thereis provided means for locking the shoe which rotates the sprocket wheelelement in one of its terminal positions.

8. A dispenser and applier for labels in continuous strip form havingspaced perforations along their marginal edges and having transverselines of perforations at equal intervals along the strip definingindividual 1abels, said device comprising in combination, means foraccommodating a quantity of the labels, a rotatable sprocket wheelelement having teeth for co-operating with the perforations in themarginal edges of the labels, means for severing the labels, an applyingdevice operable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface towhich a label is to be applied to press said label against said surfaceand to withdraw the label from the dispenser, a shoe mounted adjacentthe bottom of the dispenser and arranged, when moved from one terminalposition to another, to rotate the sprocket wheel element through aportion of a revolution to advance the leading end of the first label inthe strip past the severing means and into a position to be acted uponby the applying device and withdrawn from the dispenser, and arrangedalso to render active means for arresting the sprocket wheel elementwhen the transverse line of perforations defining the trailing end ofsaid label has advanced into registry with the severing means, and aspring for returning the shoe to its initial position, said severingdevice, as the tension in the strip material is increased by the arrestof the sprocket wheel element and the continued operation of theapplying device acting automatically to rupture the strip material atthe transverse line of perforations in registry 12 therewith and saidreturn movement of the shoe acting to release the sprocket wheel elementand render the dispenser ready for dispensing the next label.

9. A dispenser and applier for gummed adhesive labels in continuousstrip form having spaced perforations along their marginal edges andhaving transverse lines of perforations at equal intervals along thestrip defining individual labels, said device comprising in combination,means for accommodating a quantity of the labels, a rotatable sprocketwheel element having teeth for co-operating with the perforations in themarginal edges of the labels, means for severing the labels, moisteningmeans for activating the gum adhesive on the labels, an applying deviceoperable as the dispenser is drawn along an underlying surface to whicha label is to be applied to press said label against said surface and towithdraw the label from the dispenser, a shoe mounted adjacent thebottom of the dispenser and arranged, when moved from one terminalposition to another, to rotate the sprocket wheel element to advance thelabels past the severing means and over the moistening means to bringthe leading end of the first label in the strip into a position to beacted upon by the applying device, and to render active means forarresting the sprocket wheel element when the transverse line ofperforations defining the trailing end of said label has advanced intoregistry with the severing means, and a spring for returning the shoeback to its initial position, said severing device, as the tension inthe strip material is increased by the arrest of the sprocket wheelelement and the continued operation of the applying device actingautomatically to rupture the strip material at the transverse line ofperforations in registry therewith and said return movement of the shoeacting to release the sprocket wheel element and render the dispensingdevice ready for dispensing the next label.

ERNEST JAMES LEGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 895,528 Wing Aug. 11, 1908971,133 Maynes Sept. 2'7, 1910 1,019,719 Maynes Mar. 5, 1912 1,026,446Kennedy et al May 14, 1912 1,433,187 Daniels Oct. 24, 1922 2,235,704Gorbatenko et a1. Mar. 18, 1941

